Guide to technology support and services from the Division of IT

31 Aug 2026

From: Division of Information Technology

The Division of Information Technology provides technology services and support for students, employees, departments, and visitors to Virginia Tech. This guide outlines services and resources we offer that are particularly relevant as the fall semester begins, and reviews service changes that have recently gone into effect.

For everyone: you can access IT support at 4Help

When you have a technology question or need help with a computer issue, go to 4Help first. There are three ways to get help:

Online, by submitting a ticket through the 4Help.vt.edu portal. Available 24/7 for all campuses.
Phone, by calling 540-231-4357 to speak to a 4Help IT consultant. Available 24/7 for all campuses.
In-person, by visiting our help desk at the Software Service Center on Torgersen Bridge on the Blacksburg campus. The help desk is open Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to noon and 1-4 p.m. while classes are in session.

4Help’s website also contains a wealth of resources for using IT services:

See the knowledge base for how-tos covering technology products and services offered at Virginia Tech.
Visit the IT Service Catalog to request technology services, including software and hardware, cybersecurity training, consultations, captioning services, and more.
You can see the current status of IT services at Virginia Tech, noting any service outages or system maintenance.

For students

Below are resources and services that are particularly helpful for students.

Password resets, etc: 4Help's quick guide to setting up accounts, software, etc. has essential information for Hokies starting out or returning to campus.
Quick links to (almost) everything: OneCampus. Go here to connect to services including Canvas, parking services, academic calendars, eBill pay, and more.
Course registration, financial aid, and more academic information: HokieSPA, (“spa” stands for “student personal access”) a self-service portal through which you can access course registration, Hokie Passport services, Hokie Wallet, financial aid information, and other services.
Update personal or contact information navigating to HokiePLUS (personal look up system) within HokieSPA allows you to manage directory or contact information, add chosen names, pronouns, and other personal information.
Software information and purchasing: Software Service Center.
- See required software for students. Keep in mind that you may not need to purchase all the software listed under your major all at once! It is better to purchase just the tools you will need for the current academic year.
- Log into the Network Software Server to see a list of your own software purchases, as well as software currently available to you for download.
Cybersecurity tips and training: safeonline.security.vt.edu. Get basic information and tips for avoiding cyber attacks and keeping data and accounts secure.

For faculty & staff

Employees can also use OneCampus to quickly access apps and services such as Leave Reporting, Direct Deposit, Banner Time Entry, and Professional Development programs - we recommend signing in and marking your favorites so your most frequently accessed services appear at the top.

Other IT services especially useful for employees include:

Request technology services and products through the IT Service Catalog. Use it to request software and hardware, captioning services, and more. Custom forms for each service ensure requests go to the right person or office for fulfillment.
Payroll and personal information through HokieTEAM: Employee Dashboard. Log in to use this self-service portal to access W-2s, paystubs, and other personal information.
Update your personal or contact information: Employee Dashboard. Log in to manage your contact information, chosen names, pronouns, and other personal information.
Software Service Center: See departmental software that is available at the enterprise level or available for purchase, or log in to use the Network Software Server to see a list of software licensed to you or download software available to you.
Cybersecurity information for employees: safeonline.security.vt.edu. Get tips for avoiding cyber attacks and keeping data and accounts secure.

For research teams

Advanced Research Computing (ARC) provides centralized high-performance computing resources for Virginia Tech faculty and student researchers. Services include:

Access to high-performance CPU and GPU computing clusters
Long-term and archival storage for research and project data
On-site, secure Large Language Models for research using generative AI.
3D visualization via ImmersaDeck, located in ARC’s Visionarium Lab.
One-on-one consultations with ARC computational scientists.

Use the Research Services & Technologies section of the IT Service Catalog to request access to GIS tools, Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap), and more.

For departments

IT Security: The IT Security Office (ITSO) provides services and support to keep the university safe from cyber threats. Services for departments include IT security reviews, vulnerability testing, IT security training, and IT security architecture consultations.
Telecommunications services: Network Infrastructure and Services (NI&S) provides the university’s data, voice, and video networks and related services. Departments can order services from NI&S using their customer portal.

For family and friends

Did you know that families of students can use some IT services too?

OneCampus provides quick links for Family Weekend information, quick deposits to Hokie Passport for your student, Hokie Family eNews subscriptions, and more. Filter for “Parents and Families” in the category search for these links.
Families and guests can use 4help.vt.edu for guidance on IT services at Virginia Tech - most knowledge base articles are available to the public, and guests (including students locked out of their accounts) can file a help ticket if needed.

What’s new for the 2026-27 academic year?

Here’s a quick summary of services that have been updated over the summer:

Virginia Tech has set up a site to provide guidance on using AI (artificial intelligence) tools. Visit ai.vt.edu to learn more.
Our 2-factor authentication is being upgraded, and less-secure options for authenticating (text and phone options) are being phased out. Read this article about the changes.
Our primary video content management platform is now Panopto. Videos that had been in Kaltura have been moved to the new platform. Review this 4Help article on Panopto to learn more.
Sensitivity labels were enabled in Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace accounts. These labels provide guidance to help you ensure data is handled appropriately before it is shared. Learn more about how and why to use these labels.
The university is phasing out QuestionPro and moving to Qualtrics for complex surveys and research. For simpler surveys, use Microsoft Forms or Google Forms. See the university survey tools page for more information.

We hope you find these tips helpful. If you have questions or need help with technology at Virginia Tech, please submit a ticket at 4help.vt.edu or call 4Help IT Support 24x7 at 540-231-4357. Follow us on Instagram for updates and more IT tips!